Veteran Dan Jarvis has been appointed Britain's new defense minister
The British government has selected a new head of the Ministry of Defense following John Healey’s resignation. The position will be filled by politician and former military officer Dan Jarvis.
"My primary duty is to ensure the safety of the British people, and I will always do whatever is necessary to protect our national security. I am pleased to appoint Dan Jarvis as Secretary of State for Defence as we strengthen our armed forces and counter the growing threats facing our country," he said.
Jarvis has been a Member of Parliament since 2011 and served as mayor of South Yorkshire from 2018 to 2022. In 2024, when Labour came to power, he was appointed Minister of Security.
Before entering politics, he served as an officer in the British Army’s Parachute Regiment from 1997 to 2011. He served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo, and participated in other operations.
However, it is unclear how long Jarvis will remain in his post, given that Starmer’s own future is clouded by next week’s by-election, which is expected to pave the way for Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to join the race for the Labour Party leadership.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer officially announced the personnel decision to reporters.
Britain, France, and Germany have outlined five principles of peace for Ukraine.
In the event of a Russian attack on NATO members, the Alliance could launch a preemptive strike against targets on Russian territory, according to NATO Military Committee Chairman Admiral Rob Bauer.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy considers it entirely possible that Russia could open a second front against another European country even before the war in Ukraine ends.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the Russian army could attack a NATO member state within the next five years. This would test the Alliance’s resilience.
